Cannula assembly for robotically assisted pressure regulated laparoscopic surgical procedures

ABSTRACT

A cannula assembly for use in robotic surgery is disclosed that includes a robotic cannula having a housing with an open end and a tubular portion extending distally from the housing, the tubular portion being dimensioned to accommodate passage of a surgical instrument having a 12 mm diameter, an adapter assembly configured for engagement within the open end of the cannula housing and including a tubular body with a passage supporting a primary seal dimensioned to accommodate passage of a surgical instrument having a 12 mm diameter, and an insert tube dimensioned to extend through the passage of the body portion of the adapter assembly and the tubular portion of the robotic cannula, the insert tube including a head portion with a passage supporting a secondary seal dimensioned to accommodate a surgical instrument having an 8 mm diameter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/646,673filed Jul. 11, 2017, which claims the benefit of priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application 62/360,724 filed Jul. 11, 2016, thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention is directed to laparoscopic surgery, and moreparticularly, to a cannula assembly for use during robotically assisted,pressure regulated laparoscopic surgical procedures to accommodateinstruments of different size.

2. Description of Related Art

Laparoscopic or “minimally invasive” surgical techniques are becomingcommonplace in the performance of procedures such as cholecystectomies,appendectomies, hernia repair and nephrectomies. Benefits of suchprocedures include reduced trauma to the patient, reduced opportunityfor infection, and decreased recovery time. Such procedures within theabdominal (peritoneal) cavity are typically performed through a deviceknown as a trocar or cannula, which facilitates the introduction oflaparoscopic instruments into the abdominal cavity of a patient.

Additionally, such procedures commonly involve filling or “insufflating”the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity with a pressurized fluid, such ascarbon dioxide, to create what is referred to as a pneumoperitoneum. Theinsufflation can be carried out by a surgical access device (sometimesreferred to as a “cannula” or “trocar”) equipped to deliver insufflationfluid, or by a separate insufflation device, such as an insufflation(veress) needle. Introduction of surgical instruments into thepneumoperitoneum without a substantial loss of insufflation gas isdesirable, in order to maintain the pneumoperitoneum.

During typical laparoscopic procedures, a surgeon makes three to foursmall incisions, usually no larger than about twelve millimeters each,which are typically made with the surgical access devices themselves,typically using a separate inserter or obturator placed therein.Following insertion, the inserter is removed, and the trocar allowsaccess for instruments to be inserted into the abdominal cavity. Typicaltrocars often provide means to insufflate the abdominal cavity, so thatthe surgeon has an open interior space in which to work.

The trocar must provide a means to maintain the pressure within thecavity by sealing between the trocar and the surgical instrument beingused, while still allowing at least a minimum freedom of movement of thesurgical instruments. Such instruments can include, for example,scissors, grasping instruments, and occluding instruments, cauterizingunits, cameras, light sources and other surgical instruments. Sealingelements or mechanisms are typically provided on trocars to prevent theescape of insufflation gas. Sealing elements or mechanisms typicallyinclude a duckbill-type valve made of a relatively pliable material, toseal around an outer surface of surgical instruments passing through thetrocar.

Trocars having different working dimeters are also employed duringlaparoscopic procedures to accommodate different sized instruments. Forexample, it may be appropriate to use a 12 mm cannula for a surgicalstapling device, while an 8 mm trocar may be more appropriate for agrasping instrument.

It would be beneficial therefore, to provide a single trocar assemblythat can be used for differently sized instruments so as to avoid havingto use different sized trocars, requiring multiple separate incisions.Moreover, it would be beneficial to provide such a trocar that isuniquely designed for use in robotically assisted laparoscopic surgicalprocedures, which have become prevalent. Such a trocar typicallyincludes exterior structure that can be engaged or otherwise gripped bya robotic manipulator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention is directed to a new and useful cannula assemblyfor use in robotically assisted, pressure regulated laparoscopicsurgery. More particularly, the cannula assembly of the subjectinvention is adapted and configured for use in conjunction with the daVinci Surgical System, which his manufactured by Intuitive Surgical,Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., which is a tool that utilizes advanced,robotic technologies to assist a surgeon in performing minimallyinvasive surgical procedures within the abdominal cavity of a patient.

The da Vinci Surgical System has a 3D high definition (3D-HD) visionsystem, special instruments and computer software that allow a surgeonto operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. The3D-HD image can be magnified up to 10 times so the surgeon has aclose-up view of the area he or she is operating on. The da Vinciinstruments have mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic themovements of the human wrist—allowing the surgeon to make small, precisemovements inside the patient's body. The da Vinci software can minimizethe effects of a surgeon's hand tremors on instrument movements.

The cannula assembly of the subject invention includes a cannula havinga proximal housing portion with an open end and an elongated tubularportion extending distally from the proximal housing portion. Theassembly further includes an adapter configured for reception within theopen end of the proximal housing portion of the cannula and including atubular body with a central passage supporting a main seal. In addition,the assembly includes an insert tube that is dimensioned and configuredto extend through the central passage of the body portion of the adapterand the tubular portion of the cannula, wherein the insert tube includesa proximal head portion with a central passage supporting a duckbillseal.

The adapter includes an upper housing for supporting the main sealwithin the central passage of the tubular body of the adapter. Aconnector port extends from the upper housing of the adapter forconnecting the adapter to a gas delivery tube. A toggle valve isoperatively associated with the connector port for controlling the flowof gas to the adapter. In addition, a clamping collar is operativelyassociated with the upper housing of the adapter for releasably securingthe adapter to the proximal housing portion of the cannula.

An O-ring seal surrounds the tubular body portion of the adapter belowthe upper housing for sealingly engaging an interior surface of theproximal housing portion of the cannula. A flat seal is supported withinthe central passage of the proximal head portion of the insert tube. Theflat seal is positioned distal to the secondary duckbill seal. An insertcover encloses the duckbill seal and flat seal within the head portionof the insert tube.

Preferably, the central passage of the tubular body portion of theadapter is dimensioned and configured to accommodate a surgicalinstrument having a 12 mm outer diameter, and the central passage of thehead portion of the insert tube is dimensioned and configured toaccommodate a surgical instrument having an 8 mm outer diameter.

These and other features of the subject invention and the manner inwhich it is manufactured and employed will become more readily apparentto those having ordinary skill in the art from the following enablingdescription of the preferred embodiments of the subject invention takenin conjunction with the several drawings described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject inventionappertains will readily understand how to make and use the roboticcannula assembly of the subject invention without undue experimentation,preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein belowwith reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a robotically assisted laparoscopicsurgical procedure involving a plurality of robotic cannula devices;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the cannula assembly ofthe subject invention, which includes a robotic cannula portion having a12 mm working diameter, an adapter assembly configured for reception inthe housing of the robotic cannula, and an insert tube in a partiallyinserted positon relative to the adapter assembly which has an 8 mmworking diameter, and wherein the adapter assembly has a conventionalluer fitting for engaging a tube connector;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cannula assembly of FIG.2, with parts separated for ease of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cannulaassembly of the subject invention, which includes a robotic cannulaportion having a 12 mm working diameter, an adapter assembly configuredfor reception in the housing of the robotic cannula portion, and aninsert tube in a partially inserted positon relative to the adapterassembly which has an 8 mm working diameter, and wherein the adapterassembly has a proprietary tube fitting with camming lugs for engaging atube connector;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of thecannula assembly of the subject invention, which includes a roboticcannula portion having a 12 mm working diameter, an adapter assemblyconfigured for reception in the housing of the robotic cannula portion,and an insert tube having an 8 mm working diameter, and wherein theadapter assembly has a proprietary tube fitting with camming lugs forengaging a tube connector; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter assembly shown inFIG. 5 with parts separated for ease of illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identifysimilar structural features and/or elements of the subject matterdisclosed herein, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an illustration of arobotically assisted laparoscopic surgical procedure involving aplurality of access devices or cannulas 10 which provide access forsurgical instrumentation 12 controlled by robotic manipulators 14. Moreparticularly, the robotic manipulators 14 are part of a system such asthe da Vinci Surgical System, which is manufactured by IntuitiveSurgical, Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., or a similar robotic surgicalsystem.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a cannula assemblyconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subjectinvention and designated generally by reference numeral 100. Cannulaassembly 100 is particularly adapted and configured for use inrobotically assisted, pressure regulated laparoscopic surgery,involving, for example, the da Vinci Surgical System.

Cannula assembly 100 includes a robotic cannula portion 112 having aproximal housing portion 114 with an open end and a distally extendingtubular body 116, which has a 12 mm working diameter, i.e., the tubularbody portion is dimensioned and configured to accommodate a surgicalinstrument having a 12 mm outer diameter. The housing portion 114includes an engagement flange 118 configured to be selectively engagedby a robotic manipulator 14, for use as shown for example in FIG. 1.Cannula assembly 100 further includes an adapter assembly 120 configuredfor reception in the proximal housing portion 114 of the robotic cannulaportion 112, and a separable insert tube 130 which has an upper cap 132with an access port 134 and a distally extending tubular body portion136 having an 8 mm working diameter, i.e. the tubular body portion 136is dimensioned and configured to accommodate a surgical instrumenthaving an 8 mm outer diameter. The tubular body portion 136 isconfigured to extend through the central passage of the tubular body 144of the adapter assembly 120 and the tubular body 116 of the roboticcannula portion 112. A mechanical seal, such as for example, a duckbillseal or the like, is associated with the access port 134 to support asecondary seal for sealed access to the tubular body portion 136 for an8 mm surgical instrument. While it is not shown in this embodiment, thisseal is shown in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, e.g.,seals 150 and 350.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the adapter assembly 120 is configured forreception within the open end of the proximal housing portion 114 andincludes an upper housing 122 and a lower housing 124. The upper housing122 includes a cover 126 that defines an access port 128 for receiving a12 mm instrument as well as the tubular portion 136 of insert tube 130.The cover 126 encloses a pair of diametrically opposed latches 142 a and142 b which form a clamping collar operatively associated with the upperhousing 122 for releasably securing the adapter assembly 120 to the openend of the proximal housing portion 114 and which interact withcorresponding diametrically opposed locking tabs 138 a and 138 b on theupper cap 132 of insert 130 for selectively securing the insert tube 130to the adapter assembly 120 during use.

The upper housing 122 of the adapter assembly 120 further includes atubular body 144 with a central passage that supports, encloses orotherwise houses a primary seal 150. In this embodiment, the primaryseal assembly 150 includes a four-part double lipped duckbill seal, forexample, and can include a main seal above the duckbill seal. Theprimary seal 150 includes an upper flange portion 152 that isdimensioned and configured to be captured and retained between the upperand lower housing 122 and 124 of the adapter assembly 120 and moreparticularly between the top of the tubular body 144 and the bottom oflower housing 124 which seats against the cover 126 inside the lowerhousing 122 as oriented in FIG. 3. The tubular body 144 supports anO-ring seal 154 that functions to seal the interface between the innerdiameter of the open end of the proximal housing 114 of the roboticcannula portion 112 and the outer diameter of the tubular body 144 ofthe of the adapter assembly 120.

The upper housing 122 of the adapter assembly 120 also includes a valveassembly 160 that includes a rotatable toggle valve stem 162 and aninlet port 164 in the form of a luer lock connection port extending fromthe adapter assembly 120. Those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that any other suitable type of connection port can be used.This port is configured to connect with a gas delivery tube that couldbe associated with a source of insufflation gas.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated another cannula assemblyconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subjectinvention and designated generally by reference numeral 200. Cannulaassembly 200 is substantially similar to cannula assembly 100 in that itincludes a robotic cannula portion 212 having a proximal housing portion214 and a distally extending tubular body portion 216, which has a 12 mmworking diameter. The housing portion 214 includes an engagement flange218 configured to be selectively engaged by a robotic manipulator 14,for use as shown in FIG. 1.

Cannula assembly 200 further includes an adapter assembly 220 configuredfor reception in the proximal housing portion 214 of the robotic cannulaportion 212, and a separable insert tube 230 which has an upper cap 232with an access port 234 and a distally extending tubular body portion236 having an 8 mm working diameter.

Cannula assembly 200 differs from cannula assembly 100 in that the valveassembly 260 that includes an over-sized inlet port 164 with uniqueproprietary configuration that includes a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced apart camming lugs 266 for engagement with a proprietarycoupling, such as for example, the type of coupling disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0171855,and its progeny, which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is illustrated another embodimentof the cannula assembly of the subject invention, which is designatedgenerally by reference numeral 300. As illustrated, cannula assembly 300includes a robotic cannula portion 312 having a proximal housing portion314 and a distally extending tubular body portion 316, which has a 12 mmworking diameter. The proximal housing portion 314 includes anengagement flange 318 configured to be selectively engaged by a roboticmanipulator 14, for use as shown in FIG. 1.

Cannula assembly 300 further includes an adapter assembly 320 configuredfor reception in the proximal housing portion 314 of the robotic cannulaportion 312, and a separable insert tube 330 which has an upper cover332 with an access port 334 and a distally extending tubular bodyportion 336 having an 8 mm working diameter. The adapter assembly 320,which is best seen in FIG. 6, includes a 12 mm two-part single lippedduckbill seal 350 and a valve assembly 360 that includes an over-sizedtoggle valve 362 and inlet port 364 with a unique proprietaryconfiguration. The insert tube 330 also includes an 8 mm duckbill seal360 and a secondary 8 mm flat seal 363 supported within the centralpassage or access port 334 of the upper cup or cover 332 of the tubeinsert 330 for sealed access into the tubular portion 336. The flat seal363 is positioned proximal to the duckbill seal 360. The upper cover 332encloses the duckbill seal 360 and flat seal 363 within a proximal headportion of the insert tube 330.

While the subject invention has been shown and described with referenceto preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that various changes and/or modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cannula assembly kit for use in roboticallyassisted laparoscopic surgery, comprising: a) an adapter assemblyconfigured for reception in a proximal housing portion of a roboticcannula portion, wherein the adapter assembly includes a first duckbillseal; and b) a separable insert tube having an upper cover with anaccess port and a distally extending tubular body portion, wherein theinsert tube includes a second duckbill seal and a secondary flat seal,wherein the flat seal is positioned proximal relative to the secondduckbill seal, and the upper cover encloses the second duckbill seal andthe flat seal within a proximal head portion of the insert tube, whereinthe second duckbill seal and the flat seal are each configured to sealagainst surgical instruments passing through the access port and tubularbody portion.
 2. The cannula assembly kit of claim 1, wherein theadapter assembly includes an upper housing for supporting the primaryseal within the central passage of the tubular body of the adapterassembly.
 3. The cannula assembly kit of claim 2, wherein an inlet portextends from the upper housing of the adapter for connecting the adapterto a gas delivery tube.
 4. The cannula assembly kit of claim 3, whereina toggle valve is operatively associated with the inlet port forcontrolling the flow of gas to the adapter assembly.
 5. The cannulaassembly kit of claim 2, further comprising a clamping collaroperatively associated with the upper housing of the adapter assemblyfor releasably securing the adapter assembly to a proximal housingportion of the robotic cannula.
 6. The cannula assembly kit of claim 2,further comprising an O-ring seal surrounding the tubular body portionof the adapter assembly below the upper housing for sealingly engagingan interior surface of a proximal housing portion of the roboticcannula.
 7. The cannula assembly kit of claim 1, wherein the flat sealis supported within a central passage of the upper cup of the inserttube.
 8. The cannula assembly kit of claim 7, further comprising anupper cover for enclosing the secondary seal and flat seal within aproximal head portion of the insert tube.
 9. The cannula assembly kit ofclaim 1, wherein the central passage of the tubular body portion of theadapter assembly is dimensioned and configured to accommodate a surgicalinstrument having a 12 mm outer diameter, and the access port of theupper cup of the insert tube is dimensioned and configured toaccommodate a surgical instrument having an 8 mm outer diameter.
 10. Thecannula assembly kit of claim 1, further comprising a robotic cannulaportion having a proximal housing portion with an open end and anelongated tubular portion extending distally from the proximal housingportion.